Hazard A Guess: Week of July 31, 2008

I knew there would be a couple of readers out there who knew how Item No. 839 was used, and you didn’t disappoint me.

It’s a corn shock binder, used to tie corn stalks into a shock.

Chester Wedge of Fostoria, Ohio, didn’t have to hazard a guess. “I know what this is from using one!” He explains how it’s used:

“You would stand the cut stalks up in a group, then stick the pointed end of the tool into a corn stalk and take a rope and walk around the pile, thread the rope through the pulley and tighten up the pile so that it can be tied.”

We also heard correctly from Gailey Henderson of Williamstown, W.Va., and James Miller of Louisville, Ohio.

* * *

We usually don’t do shameless plugs for other things in Hazard-land, but we since we’re talking about corn harvesting, you might want to head to Wakeman, Ohio, Oct. 11 for the annual Ohio Hand Corn Husking Contest at French’s Hybrids, 6484 state Route 303. You can watch or you can compete, and if you’re really good, you could qualify for the national contest. For more information on the event, sponsored by (who else?) the Ohio Hand Corn Huskers Association, call 740-666-7972.

* * *

This week, we received a new Hazard-ous photo and are putting it to good use right away.

Bob Baumgartner of Pandora, Ohio, says the tool is pretty heavy, about 13 pounds, with a long handle and pivoting head.

Know how it was used? Let’s hear it. Write to: Hazard a Guess, P.O. Box 38, Salem, OH 44460; or via e-mail to: editorial@farmanddairy.com. Please include your name, hometown, state for proper identification. You can also check out all the recent Hazard-ous photos online, and send your comment, on our Web site, www.farmanddairy.com.